OpenAI CEO Sam Altman looks on during the APEC CEO Summit at Moscone West, San Francisco, Nov. 16, 2023. – Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Microsoft announced on Monday that it had hired Sam Altman, only days after his ouster as CEO from ChatGPT creator OpenAI, a shocking move in the artificial intelligence industry that could have ramifications for the Middle East.
OpenAI announced the American tech entrepreneur’s departure in a statement on Friday, saying he “was not consistently candid in his communications with the board” without providing further details. His replacement, interim CEO Emmett Shear said he would launch an independent review of the firing and release a report.
OpenAI is the creator of ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot that users can exchange messages with. ChatGPT can compose texts, compile research and perform a variety of other tasks within seconds. OpenAI’s technology is available in a variety of countries throughout the Middle East, including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey and most of the Gulf, per its website.
Bloomberg reported on Sunday that Altman had been traveling to the region in the weeks leading up to his ouster in an effort to raise billions of dollars for an AI-focused chip company that could produce semiconductors and compete with American giant Nvidia.
Altman held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, according to Bloomberg.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) both have AI ambitions as part of their efforts to diversify away from and reduce dependence on oil and gas, but the plans are being affected by the US-China chip rivalry. In August, reports emerged that the United States had expanded export restrictions on Nvidia’s AI chips to some Middle Eastern countries, a move that could hinder the region’s AI development, Samuel Wendel wrote in a memo for Al-Monitor PRO in September.
In October, OpenAI entered into a partnership with the Emirati tech conglomerate G42 to bring AI solutions to the UAE and other markets in the region, the latter announced at the time.
G42, the Public Investment Fund and Mubadala did not immediately respond to Al-Monitor’s request for comment.
Altman’s travel to the region is not new. In June, Altman visited Israel, meeting with Israeli officials and speaking at Tel Aviv University. Altman held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the visit to discuss cooperation. Netanyahu vowed to “turn Israel into a cyber powerhouse” following the conversation. Israel has a strong AI sector in addition to other forms of high tech.
Altman visited the UAE, Qatar and Jordan after Israel as part of a wider world tour.
Microsoft announced on Monday that it had hired Altman to lead the firm’s new advanced AI research team.
